Combination desk and chair structure



Nov. 15, 1949 E. B. MORGAN COMBINATION DESK AND CHAIR STRUCTURE 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 51, 1946 INVENTOR Erdiug B Mar-qua BY 1 jrflt fmzztzwf C ATTORNEY 4 Nov. 15, 1949 E. B. MORGAN 2,488,222

COMBINATION DESK AND CHAIR STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 31, 1.946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i :1 BY A3332??? INVENTOR 3 .8. Morgan! l llll i.

Nov. 15, 1949 E B. MORGAN COMBINATION DESKAND CHAIR STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Aug. 31, 1946 IN'VENTOR Y1] .B. Mb'z'gan VIIIIIITIIIIIIIA'II IIII. 7 I

ATTORNEY Nov. 15, 1949 E. B. MORGAN COMBINATION DESK AND CHAIR STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 31, 1946 INVENTOR .E'rzh'ng .B. Mar

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1949 FFICE COMBINATION DESK AND CHAIR STRUCTURE Erving' B. Morgan, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 31, 1946, Serial No. 694,361

12 Claims. (01. 155-124) The present invention relates to a combination desk and chair structure of the type adapted for use in schools.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a combination desk and chair structure which may be installed as a unit in a classroom or the like; to provide such a structure in which the chair is movable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the desk so that the occupant may move the chair to a position best suited to his particular body structure and to the particular work in which he is momentarily engaged; to provide such a structure having a box-type desk 2 7 view of certain parts taken on line Ill-l of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of a floor plate for the structure, set 'into the floor which is shown top the lid of which may be inclined to serve as a support for books or the like to thus improve both visibility and posture; to provide such a structure whose box-type desk top is open in the rear and which is provided with a transparent lid so that the occupant may see the contents of the desk without lifting the lid and may have ready access to said contents through the open rear of the top; to provide such a structure in which the back rail of the chair serves as a closure for the open rear of the desk top when the chair is moved to its extreme forward position, and to provide means for locking the chair in said position; and in general to provide a combination deskand chairwhich is sturdy in construction and attractive in appearance.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combination desk and chair structure, as viewed from the left side, from above and slightly from the front, the chair being shown in a position for occupancy;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same, as viewed from the left side, from the rear, and from underneath;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of certain pivotal connections in the structure;

Figure 4 is a view of seat supporting parts as seen from the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, end elevational view 4 of a roller shown at the right of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the same taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5; j

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 4 and showing a modified construction;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of certain parts, taken on line 8-8 of Figure 2; Figure 9 is a top plan view of several combination desk and chair structures arrangedin an arcuate row formation;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional .ingle 2anda fragmentarily;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the combination desk and chair structure, as viewed from the right side, from the rear, and from above, the chair being here shown in a forwardly moved position of non-occupancy;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the combination desk and chair structure, the chair being shown in a position for occupancy;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the same, the chair being shown in a forwardly moved position of non-occupancy;

Figure 15 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the boxype desk top taken on line l5|5 of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a sectional view of the desk top similar to Figure 15 and showing the lid of the desk top in a rearwardly moved position;

Figure 17 is a sectional view similar to Figures 15 and 16 and showing the lid of the desk top in an inclined position adapted to support a book or the like;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the desk top and likewise showing the lid thereof in an inclined position;

Figure 19 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the parts of the desk top shown at the right of Figure 15 and showing said parts in greater detail;

Figure 20 is a perspective view of a hasp and mounting plate therefor shown in section in Figure 16;

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a modified construction of the box-type desk top, the supporting pedestal therefor being shown fragmentarily;

Figure 22 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of parts thereof taken on line 22 of Figure21; and V Figure 23 is a perspective view'of another modified form of the combination desk and chair structure. 7

Referring now in detail to these drawings, and referring first particularly to Figures 1 through 6, :the combination desk and chair structure there shown generally comprises a standard having a pedestal I, a laterally extending supportrearwardly extending supporting leg 3 secured to the'bottom of the pedestal as and extending in parallelism to the supporting legs 2 and 3 respectively. A desk top generally designated 8 of the box-type, is mounted on the brackets 4 and 5 as by means of bolts or rivets I.

The rearward end of the supporting leg 3 is formed to provide a circular bearing surface 8 having a central, upstanding. annular spindle 8 formed integrally with the leg 3 and provided with internal screw-threads. A chair-carrying arm III has one of its ends similarly formed to provide a circular bearing surface ll having a central, annular bore which receives the spindle 9 on the leg 3, and these parts are secured together in pivotally connected assembly by means of a washer l2 and a machine screw l3 whose shank passes through the washer l2 and is screw threaded into the spindle 9. A depending stop M on the arm it travels in an arcuate way I5 in the leg 3, and the ends of the way I5 serve as cooperating stops with the stop l4v to limit forward and rearward swinging movements of the arm I0.

The outer end of the chair-carryin-g arm l0 is supported in its swinging movement on a conical roller i6 hereinafter more fully described, and a chair generally designated I1 is mounted on an upstanding post It the lower end of which is secured as by welding to the arm l0 and the upper end of which is provided with a circular bracket 19 (see Figure 2) on which the chair is mounted rotatably about a vertical axis in any conventional manner. It will be seen that the arrangement above described provides a unitary structure in which the chair is movable at the will of the occupant so that he may position the same in desired relation to the desk.

Figures 4-6 inclusive show the construction and arrangement of the roller It on the arm to. This roller is of conical formation and comprises spaced hubs 20, 2! adapted to be Journalled on a spindle 22 at the outer end of the arm it, to which hubs are secured as by welding a pair of annular discs or webs 23, 24 having inner portions 25, 28 secured together as by rivets 2'! and outer retaining flanges 28 which retain therebetween a conically formed rubber tire 29. The roller is thus formed is tur'nably secured on the spindle 22 as by means of a. disc 30 and machine screw 3i passing through the disc and threaded in the spindle 22. The axis of the roller's tuming movement, which is indicated in Figure 4 by a broken line 32, is inclined to such a degree that it intersects the point where the vertical axis of the turning movement of arm I0 meets the floor. By this arrangement, there is a true rolling movement of the roller it on the floor, without any sliding movement, and the wear on the roller and on the floor is thus reduced to a minimum.

Figure? illustrates a modification of the chaircarrying arm in which two rollers 33 and 34 are provided for increasing the support of the post 35 on which the chair is mounted, and which post is secured to the chair-carrying arm between the two rollers.

Glides 36 are secured as by screws 31 to the underside of the laterally extending leg 2 of the standard. These glides facilitate movement of the structure across a floor when placing units of this type in position in a classroom. According to the present invention, these glides serve an additional function in maintaining the units in predetermined positions, and this is of especial importance when it is desired that the units be arranged in arcuate rows as illustrated in Figure 9. To this end, floor plates 3! (see Figures 10 and 11) are set into the floor and secured as by wood screws 39 in an arrangement conforming to the desired layout of the classroom; The floor plates 38 have sockets 40 whirh conform to the shape of the glides 2B, and it will be seen that as the structure is moved into position over the pre-installed floor plates, the glides 38 will readily enter the sockets 40 and will maintain the structure in its proper location until such time as it is desired to move the same, whereupon the structure may be lifted slightly to disengage the glides from the sockets.

As best seen in Figures 12-18 inclusive, the box-type desk top 5 comprises a bottom 4|, a front wall 42, side walls 43 having inwardly turned, slotted angle portions 44 at the rear thereof, a fixed cover 45 over the forward portion of the top having a conventional inkwell 4i anda rearwardly extending lip 41. A lid 48 is provided with brackets 49 secured to the underside of the lid as by screws 50, and the rearward ends of the brackets 49 are pivotally connected to the rearward ends of bars 5| which bars are in turn slidably mounted on the side walls 43 of the dsk top by means of pins 52, 53 on the side walls which extend into forward slots 54 and rearward slots 55 in the bars 5|. It will be seen that the lid 48 is thus mounted for forward and rearward sliding movement and for turning movement about a horizontal axis near its rearward edge to a lowered position covering the desk top and to a raised position adapted to support 4 a book or the like. As best seen in Figures 15-18, the lid 48 has a forwardly projecting lip 56 which engages under the lip 41 on the cover 45 when the lid is in its forward position, and in this position the lid is prevented from turning movement. The rear portion of the rear slot 55 in each bar 5| is turned upwardly so that initial rearward movement of the lid raises the rear portion of the lid but lowers the front thereof so that the lips 41 and 58 are disengaged, after which the lid may be swung upwardly to an inclined position wherein it is adapted to support a book or other item, the lid being provided with a ledge 51 for this purpose.

The chair 11 comprises a seat 58 and a back rail 59 secured to stamped sheet metal side frames 50 in any conventional manner. The back rail 59 is of rearwardly bowed arcuate cross section, and the rearward edge of the desk top lid 48 above the rear opening in the desk top, is similarly arcuately shaped. By this arrangement the back rail 59 serves as a closure for the rear opening in the desk top when the lid 48 is in its lowered, forwardly slid position and the chair I! is in its extreme forwardly moved position. Means are provided for locking the chair to the desk top with the back rail thus closing the rear opening in the desk top in order to prevent theft of articles from the interior of the desk top. These locking means comprise a mounting plate 6| secured to the underside of the desk tops bottom H as by means of screws 62, an oval-shaped wire hasp 63 slidably mounted in the mounting plate ii for forward movement beneath the desk and for rearward movement through a slot 64 in the ohairs back rail 59, and a padlock 65 which may be of the combination type adapted for insertion in the rearward loop of the hasp 63 after after said rearward loop has been passed through the slot II in the back rail 59. ment of the hasp 63 is stopped the forward loop thereof with a shoulder tion the mounting plate 6|. The back rail 59 is thus locked in closing position in the desk top. in which ment of the desk top's lid by engagement of desk top is thus positively prevented. As seen in Figure 19, the slot 64 in the back rail 59 may be lined with protective sheet metal members 61 and 68 to prevent marring of the back rail by the locking mechanism.

purpose of the transparent lid is to permit inspection of the contents of the desk top when the structure is locked. Still another purpose is to preclude the occupant from raising the lid to the position indicated in Figures 17 and 18, and

' obscuring himself from his instructor's view.

The glass pane may be constructed and installed in the lid in any known manner. As shown the pane 68 has strengthening ribs 10 and a marginal edge H to which a metal moldin 12 has been applied, and the metal molding is in turn secured to the frame 13 of the lid as by means of brads 14.

Figure'23 illustrates a modification of the invention in which the supporting standard for the structure is fabricated from metal tubing. As shown a single length of tubing is bent to form a pair of pedestals 15,16 connected by an upper, front, desk-top supporting portion I1, and a rearwardly extending leg 18 to which the chaircarrying arm 19- is pivotally connected. Other lengths of tubing are shown welded to the main length and comprise an upper rearwardly extending side support 80 for the desk top 8|, and a strengthening brace 82 in the angle formed between the pedestal and the leg I8.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a combination desk and chair structure which has many utilitarian features shown and described, further modifications might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, a standard'comprising an upright pedestal and a pair of supporting legs secured to the lower end of the pedestal, one of said legs extending in a lateral direction and the other leg extending in a rearward direction, a desk top mounted at its front on the upper end of the pedestal, an arm having one end thereof pivotally connected to the rearward end of the rearwardly and the other end thereof provided with a roller whereby said arm is swingable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the desk to and a seat mounted on said arm.

2. In a structure of the class described, a standard comprising an upright pedestal and a pair of supporting legs secured to the lower end Rearward movee oi the pedestal, one ofsaid legs extending in a lateral direction and the other leg extending in a rearward direction, a desk 1 D mounted at a front corner thereof on the-upper end of the 5 pedestal, an arm having one end thereof pivotally connected to the rearwardend of the rearwardly extending leg and the other end thereof provided with a roller whereby said arm is swingable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the 10 desk top, and a seat mounted on said arm and movable therewith to a position rearwardly of the desk top and to a forward position beneath the desk top.

3. In a structure of the class described, a 15 standard comprising an upright pedestal and a pair of supporting legs secured to the lower end of the pedestal, one of said legs extending in a lateral direction and the other leg extending in a rearward direction, a desk top mounted at its 20 front on the upper end of the pedestal, an arm having one end thereof connected pivotally about a vertical axis to the rearward end of the rearwardly extending leg andthe other end thereof provided with a conical roller whereby said arm is swingable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the desk top, the conical surface of said roller being convergent toward the point of intersection of the arm's vertical axis of swinging movement with the supporting floor, and a seat mounted on said arm.

4. In a structure of the class described, a standard comprising an upright pedestal and a pair of supporting legs secured to the lower end of the pedestal, one of said legs extending in a lateral direction and the other leg extending in a rearward direction, a desk top mounted at its front on the upper end of the pedestal, an arm having one end thereof pivotally connected to the rearward tending leg for limiting the forward and rearward swinging movements of the arm, and a seat mounted on said arm.

5. A structure of the class described comprising an upright pedestal, a box-type desk top mounted on the upper end of the pedestal and having an opening in the rear thereof, a chair top.

6. A structure of the class described comprisan upright 7 back rail is in closing position over the opening in the desk top, and a lock adapted to engage said hasp for locking the chair to the desk top.

7. In a structure of the class described, a standard having an upright pedestal and a rearwardly extending leg, a box-type desk top mounted on the upper end of the pedestal and having an opening in the rear thereof, an arm pivotally connected to said leg and swingable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the desk top, a chair mounted on said am and having a back rail adapted to register with the opening in the desk top and serve as a closure therefor, and cooperating locking means on the desk top and the chair for locking the chair to the desk top with said back rail in closing position over the opening in the desk top.

8. A structure of the 'class described comprising an upright pedestal, a box-type desk top mounted on the upper end of the pedestal and having a transparent lid and an opening in the rear thereof, a chair movable, forwardly and rearwardly relative to the desk top and having a back rail adapted to register with the opening in the desk top and serve as a closure therefor, and cooperating locking means on the desk top and the chair for locking the chair to the desk top with said back rail in closing position over the opening in the desk top.

9. A structure of the class described comprising: an upright pedestal; a box-type desk top mounted on the upper end of the pedestal and comprising a bottom, side walls, a front wall, a fixed cover over the forward portion of the top having a rearwardly extending lip, bars forwardly-rearwardly slidably mounted on the side walls, and a lid hingedly mounted on said bars for sliding movement therewith and for turning movement about a horizontal axis near its rearward edge to a lowered position covering the desk top and to a raised position adapted to support a book or the like, said lid having a forward portion adapted to engage beneath the lip on the fixed cover when the lid is in forwardly slid position thus to prevent turning movement of the lid; a chair movable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the desk top and having a back rail adapted to register with the open rear of the desk top and serve as a closure therefore and simultaneously prevent rearward sliding movement of the box tops lid; and cooperating locking means on the desk top and the chair for locking the chair to the desk top with said back rail in closing position over the open rear of the desk top.

10. A structure of the class described comprising: an upright pedestal; a box-type desk top mounted on the upper end of the pedestal and comprising a bottom, side walls, a front wall, a fixed cover over the forward portion of the top having a rearwardly extending lip, bars forwardly-rearwardly slidably mounted on the side walls, and a transparent lid hingedly mounted on said bars for sliding movement therewith and for turning movement about a horizontal axis near its rearward edge to a lowered position covering the desk top and to a raised position adapted to support a book or the like, said lid having a forward portion adapted to engage beneath the lip on the fixed cover when the lid is in forwardly slid position thus to prevent turning movement of the lid; a chair movable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the desk top and having a back rail adapted to register with the open rear of the desk top and serve as a closure therefore and simultaneously prevent rearward sliding movement of the box tops lid; and cooperating locking means on the desk top and the chair for looking the chair to the desk top with said back rail in closing position over the open rear of the desk top.

11. In a structure of the class described. a

" standard having an upright pedestal and a rearwardly extending leg, glides secured to the bottom of the standard near the front, floor plates adapted to be set into a floor and having sockets adapted to receive said glides for securing the standard in predetermined position, a desk top mounted at its front on the upper end of the pedestal, an arm having one end thereof pivotally connected to the rearward end of said leg and the other end thereof provided with a roller whereby said arm is swingable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the desk top, and a seat mounted on said arm.

12. In a structure of the class described, a standard having an upright pedestal and a rearwardly extending leg, a desk top mounted at its front on the upper end of the pedestal, an arm having one end thereof pivotally connected to the rearward end of said leg and the other end thereof provided with a roller whereby said arm is swingable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the desk top, and a seat mounted on said arm.

ERVING B. MORGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 140,689 Elder July 8, 1873 367,037 Gough et a1 July 26, 1887 464,046 Steese Dec. 1, 1891 1,061,194 McNulty May 6, 1913 1,195,627 Thum Aug. 22, 1916 1,613,187 Mullen Jan. 4, 1927 2,006,603 Nordmark et al July 2, 1935 2,024,045 Johnson Dec. 10, 1935 2,051,490 Llghtfoot Aug. 18, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 196,214 Germany Mar. 7, 1908 492,106 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1938 

